A community vision nearly two decades in the making received national attention Wednesday as APWA and its Engineering & Public Works Roadshow partners celebrated the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena in Watertown, South Dakota.
APWA Region VI Director Bill Stogsdill Jr., CPM, CPWP-M, PWLF, joined Watertown Mayor Ried Holien, local public works professionals and community leaders, and representatives from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to highlight the collaboration behind the $36.5 million project.
“For years, Watertown recognized that its existing facility could no longer meet the community’s needs. Rather than accepting that limitation, this community came together with a shared vision,” said Stogsdill. “Today, this facility is already providing greater recreational opportunities, attracting regional events, supporting the local economy, and incorporating sustainable technologies that will benefit the community for years to come.”
Prairie Lakes Ice Arena replaced an aging facility that could no longer meet community demand. What followed was years of planning and a public-private effort that brought together city staff, engineers, architects, contractors, elected officials, businesses, volunteers, youth organizations, and residents.
The resulting two-rink facility has significantly expanded Watertown’s capacity for youth hockey, figure skating, curling, public skating, adult recreation, tournaments, and other events. Organized ice use increased from 1,045 hours between September 2023 and January 2024 at the former arena to 1,588 hours during the same period the following season at Prairie Lakes.
The project also incorporated energy-efficient HVAC and refrigeration systems, LED and motion-activated lighting, an electric Zamboni, and other improvements that resulted in more than $51,000 in energy-efficiency rebates.
Former Watertown Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director and South Dakota APWA Chapter leader Heath VonEye, who helped lead the project, served as host for Wednesday’s event. City Engineer Justin Petersen, City Attorney Lisa Carrico, community fundraiser and project champion Jodi Driscoll, and former arena superintendent Scott Gloe also shared their perspectives on bringing the project from vision to reality.
